Friday, August 31, 2012

I bang on religion a lot here, it's difficult to explain why in less than doctoral dissertation length. But here is one reason why I think, for some people, religion is so necessary. It's the personal story of a yakuza (which got me to look at the video). For him, religion is his salvation in a very true, concrete way. And, IMHO, he's approaching it correctly. It's a journey that begins anew every day. If only American Evangelicals, as a majority, could embrace that vision and that humility (yes, I know several who do that) our world could be very different. (Grokked from Catherine Schaff-Stump)

He kids, ever want what those floppy disk things are that your parents keep on asking where they are on your computer? Here's a nice history. And, ZOMG, I used all of those (tape, 8", 5.25" and 3.5", not to mention punch cards). (Pointed to by John)

The lies of Romney. Warning, it's a long article. Not because the refutation requires lots of justification but because Romney lies so much. I've heard lots of people say, "Well, all politicians lie." And that's partially true is you include view point issues and promises. What you'll see in that article is Romney is lying about things that are demonstratively proven false. This isn't a "he said, she said", Romney's looking at the sky and saying it's yellow (okay, bad choice, because sometimes the sky is yellow). Okay, maybe it's more like he's saying "one and one equals ostrich." Yeah, that's more like it. This is the view from inside the bubble. The problem is, I don't think Romney knows the truth or wants to know it when he's pointed towards it.

The Rolling Stone article on Mitt Romney. "He's Gordon Gekko, but a new and improved version, with better PR…" With more on how Bain Capital and other private finance companies work (hint, it's all about sticking the other guy with the check). You know, exactly what they accuse Obama of doing, but here's the thing, they know how to do it better (read: borrow even more money to pay themselves and stick the kids with the debt). (Grokked from Matt Staggs)

I'm pointing these things out not because I enjoy it. As I've said, I really wish this was a campaign of ideas. I just wish the conservatives were will to join in that, but instead they give us this. What hasn't been said so far is this is the Romney Campaign's response to the vicious and brutal primary they went through. They learned their lesson then (but didn't learn how to do it well), and they haven't realized that people are starting to pay attention and the general election is a whole 'nother different animal. What worked when only the wonks were watching is different than when the country (most of whom couldn't give two squats for politics) are watching.

As a personal note, the only reason I'm not crying just at this moment is I am in a hallway at school about to go into lab. Fuck cancer. Goddamn fuck it that someone close to my age needs to deal with this. Because it sucks that we won't get to know Jay better (I've only met him in person at two cons, and didn't get much time even then, but he's a hoopy frood and those are always good to know). It sucks that we won't have more books and stories by Jay (we've already have lost some due to the time he's been in chemo). Some people feel these times bring them closer to whatever god they believe in. I'm not one of those people.

Have an ebook you're flogging? Here's a promotion, the-cheap.net is starting up their Santa Sampler program and are looking for ebooks their readers can sample and give feedback. The link is to their posting on Absolute Write. It looks like the-cheap.net will be asking their readers a few questions about your sample, like if they would be interested in reading the rest of your book.

Readers do not owe one thing to an author. Robison Wells is wise. You want to see what authors do, go to a convention. Watch authors playing with each other, and then watch authors up on the podium. Especially the guests of honor. While authors are playing with each other, in my experience, they're having fun or whinging or being real, but when they're up on the podium that's the dancing bear routine. When I'm a panelist I'm trying to hold my own in a field crowded with Very Smart People™ saying Very Smart Things™. I've been on panels that everybody is very respectful of each other and I've seen panels where the exact opposite is in effect. But in the end, it isn't about the panelists… ever. It's about the audience, the readers and consumers of what we do. The panelists are there for the audience. Our job is to excite, inform, but above all else, be entertaining. The same is true when we write. Do we try tricks, do we do things for our own enjoyment? Sure. But the ultimate goal is to give the reader entertainment (note: there are many values of "entertainment"). In case you ever want to study people who do this well I suggest watching Elizabeth Bear, John Scalzi, and David Hartwell to name three people. Especially if you get to see John do his GoH schtick. (Grokked from Paolo Bacigalupi)

It's not from Life Hacker, but it is a good tip. I guess there's a right way to eat Tic-Tacs. Who knew? Mentioned here because I've been using Tic-Tacs as a way to subvert the "getting a snack" impulse. I've found that what I craved was flavor. And while TT doesn't come in many, there are some nice ones. (Grokked from the Slactivist)

The arctic sea ice just hit a record low and why it matters. If you want the short hand, it's called an amplifying event. Also see #3, "In the past, scientists have underestimated the pace at which Arctic sea ice would disappear." Expect to hear how the "predictions were wrong" from the conservatives, who will conveniently forget to mention the predictions painted too rosy a picture. Also note #5 "The changing Arctic could lead to more extreme summers and winters in the United States and Europe." I guess it was a good thing I got the big snow thrower then. (Pointed to by Dan)

Hey big spender. Okay, well, the survey is just of individuals, and conservatives spend more per person when they visit strip clubs than do progressives, but there's no data about how many of each. I mean, you'd only need three conservatives to make up the revenue of nine progressives. But if your bar is packed with progressives, it might be better that way. I don't know. (Grokked from the Slactivist)

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Elizabeth Shack shares good writing resources and as a reminder to myself and everyone new here about them. There's Duotrope which is excellent for finding markets. Although I see they want you to sign up now. So'kay. I'll do then when I have shorts to flog around. Short stories. Geez, get your mind outa my gutter. The OWW SF&F workshop which is a well respected online writing workshop. A list from the Romance Writers of America about their online workshops. And if you want to bang on romance writers, don't let me know. RWA are cool people. And frankly, many genre writers would kill to have the sales numbers of romance authors. Plus, did I mention they're nice people (they even give an award for genre writing). And a new to me forum, Forward Motion. And I'll add one more here, Absolute Write. If you can get into the Cooler, all the better. Jaleigh Johnson has some more. (that's what I get for not reading all of my backlog first)

Ann VanderMeer lands at Tor.com. That's fabulous for all sides (Ann, Tor.com, and writers). Congrats, Ann. Well deserved and well done.

On book reviews and not feeding the trolls. I haven't been in this business very long, but here's one thing I've learned. Not everybody will love everything you do. And that's okay. Frankly, there are a few authors that I've read and wondered who pays them to write this drivel (usually followed by fervent prayers to the Muses to be so afflicted with a wildly successful novel) (Grokked from Absolute Write)

The UofM's librarycomputer and video game archives. Cool. And I know people who work in the UofM's library system. Double score! Have I mentioned how much librarians rock? (Pointed to by Dan)

The Apple Genius Manual. While the article makes this all sound so sleazy, there's a lot of retail stores that have manuals and training like this. Starbucks is another one. The only way they differ is in how deep and in what direction they go, but they're all focused on providing an "experience" to the customer, and getting that customer to feel they're cared about. (Pointed to by John)

Have a really bad plot idea? Hey, now you can win a book with it. And the book is the 2013 Guide to Literary Agents. You know, so you can inflict your bad plot line on them. Or you could win a query/synopsis critique.

Erich makes the cogent argument of why being a CEO doesn't really prepare you for political office. Also, okay, I was going to do a post on this but I might be able to short hand it here. This is what a private equity firm does. They find a company who is sound on all other aspects except one, finance. Typically because of debt or cash flow issues. They then buy the company, which relieves the debt or cash flow issues. Then they leverage the shit out of the company (that is, they take out new debt on the company) to pay themselves a profit. The company then (with or without the equity firm's help) then must both meet profitability goals and repay all that debt the prevail equity firm took out. And just to be clear about this, it's all debt driven. That's right, the guy whom the conservatives of the "get us out of debt" stripe are nominating is the guy who got a lot of companies into a lot of debt. Some of them made it out, some of them didn't. That's his business experience. (Of course there's always other examples, but that's how private equity makes money from the companies they buy, they borrow it)

Ten pieces of bad news for the Romney Campaign. Although #9, as long as Romney can keep vague on just what he'll cut, everybody will be able to self delude themselves (again) into thinking the cuts will only affect those lazy people, not themselves. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

Monday, August 27, 2012

The three Neils. It's often easy to overlook that Neil Armstrong was an Ohio boy. Unlike John Glenn, Neil shunned the spotlight. I think that has a lot to do with his bright smile.

"What I've learned to fear above all at business meetings is the average Power Point presentation." Me too. Roger Ebert on the lip flap. Unfortunately with the advent of many ways to get in contact with people, his and Gene Siskel's aversion to getting voice mail asking you to call back only to be given a message that could just as easily been left on the voice mail has only been multiplied. Like getting an IM telling me someone is about to call to ask if I've seen their email. And yes, that happens. At least once a week. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

Well, it's good to know that that GOP Leaders aren't just against Latinos and refighting Civil Rights. It appears they're still fighting the Indian Wars. Really? New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez meeting with local Native Americans, which is a meeting required by law, somehow disrespects Col Custer according to Republican National Committee leader Pat Rogers? Okay, one, IIRC Custer didn't fight in the Southwest. And you may also need to know that the Indian Wars are over. Like, long over. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

I've often commented to second amendment type people that if, Brid forbid, I was ever involved with an active shooter to please do not return fire. Mostly because I didn't want to get shot in the ass as I ran away screaming like a little girl. I also believe that civilians, who typically don't practice nearly as much or in combat situations as police are required to do, are only going to add to the tragedy, not end it. The NYPD admit that except for the murder victim, all other nine of the casualties were caused by the police. Now, Jeffrey Johnson did pull a gun on the officers, so they were within their rights and operating procedures to return fire. But remember, police are required to re-certify in firearms every year (at least here in Ohio). Many of them practice every week. Linked here because I know I'm going to need it in the future. (Grokked from Chia Lynn)

Sunday, August 26, 2012

After a crazy summer, things are about to get crazier. Tomorrow I start back to classes. That means mornings in class and afternoons/evenings at work.

What this means to you, dear reader, is that the publishing schedule will get even more erratic than before. You may think that's not possible, but trust me, it is. I apologize in advance for missed days and skimpy content.

On the positive side of the reboot, I did get a scholarship. It's not much but it looks like it'll cover the difference between the total tuition bill and what Bette's employee discount pays. So there's still the fees and books (those are enough), and not to mention the extra gas to cover the extra commutes between school and work. Hopefully on that last expense, the day thing will be supplying a laptop to facilitate "working from home" (ie. sitting in a study carrel between class and lab). I've been told this will happen, but haven't seen the laptop yet. If it does, that'll have be about 3 hours on the road that I could apply to getting 40 hours in (without having to work Saturdays… which I'll have to do in the last part of the semester.

Am I freaked out? Yes I am. I have no idea how I'm going to make this work as more and more details come out about what is required. And then I also start wondering if I really do have this level of exertion left in me. When I was younger, it wouldn't have been a problem. It would have hurt, but I'd drive through it. These past few weeks I'm not so sure. I'm hoping it's because my weight has been up and as I get some more exercise I'll feel a lot better about it.

Not everything got done that needs to be done. Hopefully some of it will be okay to hold off until the end of the semester. And what can't wait we can hopefully deal with in the limited time we have.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

One of these days we'll go and see your footsteps and remember the first human to step out onto the surface of another world. And when that happens, kids everywhere will begin dreaming of adventure again.

Of some interest to my novel, Bladesman,the Japanese try to crack down on the yakuza. Unfortunately the Japanese organized crime syndicates are highly entrenched. A comparable event would be like trying clean up organized crime in America during Prohibition. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

And interesting (and quick) squib on the rise of the mass market paperback. Of general writerly interest, look at the numbers of books sold. Also notice the importance of the distribution channels to the success of the new format (and books in general). (Grokked from Jay Lake)

Going public with depression. Monsters are more scary in the dark than in the light. "Among a million other things I wish he'd lived to see is the community of souls online, generously baring and sharing their depression struggles with strangers." There's lots of links at the bottom of that page, in case you may need them. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

There was an interesting series on Marketplace this week about paychecks. That's a story on sharing what you earn (including who is sharing what about your salary). Also please note who objects to sharing salary information. There's also a part about how with Frank-Dodd publicly traded companies will need to share their salary ratio (what the top exec makes compared to what the rest of the people make). One of the interviewees says how embarrassing it'll be so we shouldn't do it. Um, no, that's exactly the point of sharing it.

And with other business news, sometimes tragedy is good for profits. It's one thing to position your company to make a profit, it's another to realize that someone's struggle for survival is your enhanced profit, it takes a sociopath to be joyful about it and shiver with anticipation. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

And just a final note of this week's Romney toe-tipping into birtherism, it's just another example of his dog-whistling. Dear Mitt, you can continue to jab in the spotlight and "clarify" off camera when nobody is really paying attention, and you'll continue to look like the despicable person you are. At least McCain had the decency to counter bigotry when he heard it, in the same room, and at the time it happened. You know, before the spotlight moved on.

Friday, August 24, 2012

It's coming up on the Great Geauga County Fair time. How do I know? The Amish boys have been drag racing on the back roads for the past few weeks. Sure, coming over a hill to come face to face with two dragging roadsters is one thing, image it if wasn't roadsters by horse carts (trotter rigs). Tonight on the way home, they were also burning fires, clearing up the brush.

I mentioned on twitter that I had bought a new computer (hurrah!). However, whenever I do nice things for myself, there tends to be smiting in proportion to the cost or joy (or both) that I get from getting myself nice things. Some people may have thought I was being over dramatic. Ask me what went to hell this week. Let's begin with the water heater fritzing out the next day. So it has been having problems before, but we had cleared out what was causing issues (installers didn't follow code). However, the garbage that had gone through was causing other problems. Brought in service tech that helped us get up to code. Long story, but after paying for expedited shipping twice (see earlier rant on Sears Parts not being very customer oriented), one part, the most important part, didn't work. But so far the old part seems to be working again. Work sort of exploded this week and now the week before going to class I'm exhausted again. And did I mention that this morning that my check engine light went on? Oh, and I nearly forgot to go get my second TB injection. So, a banner week.

But the new MacAir is nice. However, my old laptop is so old, the migration assistant won't recognize it. Now besides going through getting everything working, there's also a lot of data I can't forward into the new machine.

And finally, not only did Phyllis Diller pass this week (another Hollywood Square goes dark), but so did Jerry Nelson. Next week will be a lot less funny.

A new study shows that how we remember music is very different that how we remember other things. Unfortunately, these experiments are conducted using people who experience traumatic brain injury (because it's unethical to intentionally damage someone's brain). So while it's only based on one person, most of the rest of this type of research has panned out in the past. (Pointed to by John)

Fred Clark sums up some of the crazy. I'd love to say these freeze-dried-whackaloons are harmless, but thanks to the Tea Party, many of them now hold public office. If you want a decent primer on why the Left believes the Right has lost it's collective mind, just go read.

Ah, the vaulted security theater strikes again. Also please note, the main contention was with Delta and the local security, not the TSA. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

The student loan crisis. (Grokked from Tobias Buckell) Of which I only avoided because of Bette's fiscal prowess. DOn't think this is too much of a problem? Some people are having their Social Security check garnished to pay for their loans (some are for their children or grandchildren). I'm of the first generation that couldn't discharge their loans through bankruptcy, so that was never an option for me (and fortunately, except for those first few years I wasn't in the position to be able to file for bankruptcy). This is why I like President Obama's new payment options on loans. That is, after a certain point in life, the remaining part of the loan is forgiven. I know people like to talk about the looming crisis with SocSec and Medicare, but the demise of student aid and the rise of the loan burden is about to saddle our economy with an even worse problem.

The Fankenstein computer virus platform. I think the concept is kinda interesting, but if I had to make a real guess… well, there's a lot of things. Mostly I would think that it would be easier to write a tightly coded and targeted virus to make the specific attacks you want. It would be handy in mapping out networks, which might encounter platforms/environments that are dissimilar enough that one worm wouldn't be able to exploit all the routes. (pointed to by John)

Why you should hire professionals for somethings. Problem is, Ms. Gimenez may have damaged the under structure of the fresco, which would make a full restoration impossible. Somewhere, Terry Gilliam is saying, "I don't know much about art, but I know what I like."

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Ever wanted to use a wand or sonic screwdriver to change the channel? Well, now you can. (Grokked from Ferrett Steinmetz)

The FF Chartwell font functionality. Okay, that's pretty cool. Although I still prefer to do my own charts, but I could see using this to get shapes that I could play with to make them something stellar. (Grokked from Dan)

My wife has to deal with this stuff every semester, but in case you all aren't aware higher education is no longer a non-contact sport. Student often shout things out like Joe Walsh off his ritalin. And this isn't contained to religious or political issues. Sometimes it's even contentious about the subject if Australia is Old or New world. And I also hate to say that the "don't anybody participate" quote isn't unique either. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

Some reasons why you should tip your waiters with cash. Since the Plain Dealer did their expose about this a few years ago I've tried to do this whenever I can. Here in Ohio, besides taking the swipe fee and discount of the tip some owners were charging the whole transaction swipe fee and discount to the tip, which in some cases could take most of the tip. (Grokked from Stewart Sternberg)

And I wonder with all these "personhood" movements giving fetuses all "the legal and constitutional attributes and privileges of personhood" if a pregnant woman could file for disability payments for the "person inside her" who obviously can't work because of a medical condition?

Alligator Quotient: They're circling, but keeping out of range. They won't be able to keep this up for long.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Here's and interesting take on politics lately. For the past two election cycles I've heard the conservatives talk about their "boldness" and or "bold leadership." understand that these are cover words for, "I know your pissed at the votes I took, that they're unpopular socially conservative standpoints, but I was exercising bold leadership." Or, in other words, don't criticize me because I took a chance. Which, BTW, the chance they were taking was being pilloried for the positions/votes you say you showed "bold leadership" on.

Know what else was bold leadership? Lord Cardigan leading the Light Brigade into the valley between the Fedyukhin and Causeway Heights, otherwise known as the "Valley of Death." If you don't think that was a bold move and took leadership, you don't really understand the military. Lord Cardigan had his orders, which he misinterpreted because they weren't clear, and he and his men knew their charge was doomed. And yet they went anyway. What you may not know is the Light Brigade made their objective. And after suffering heavy casualties getting there, the remnants were destroyed as they pulled back.

Know what else was bold leadership? Pettigrew's Charge was bold leadership. Every man on the field knew what they were about to get into, including all the officers. The Union held the high ground, including artillery on Little Round Top, and the Confederate artillery bombardment had indeterminate results (viewed from their side of the field). It was only Lee's trust that his men would deliver the impossible that kept the charge going. And Lee was wrong. If you don't know, Pettigrew's Charge is more famously known by his subordinate officer's name, Pickett.

Both are examples of bold leadership and both were disastrous for both side of the conflict. They were more disastrous for those exercising that bold leadership.

So when you hear a politician spouting about how they're showing "bold" or "decisive" leadership instead of "thoughtful" or "correct" leadership, you now have historical examples of what happens in those cases. A lot of people get slaughtered.

They probably won't ship in time to qualify for Janiece's summer program, but Subterranean Press is offering 50% off forthcoming books (and a handful of in print books). There's a lot of addendum, please read that page. However, Subterranean Press makes gorgeous books. They're just like I remember books when I was young. The printing, binding, and paper (including deckle edges - I'm pretty sure The Sky that Wraps has deckle edges, at least it does in my mind's eye) are exquisite. It is one of my writing goals to have one of my books reprinted by them. (Grokked from John Scalzi)

Yesterday was HP Lovecraft's birthday. Irene Gallo did a post on the call of Lovecraft. I think visual artists are drawn to Lovecraft because of his poetic descriptions (and non-descriptions) that fire the imagination.

Telepresence robots are getting cheaper. In this case, the platform builds off of iPads. Still not sure if it'll catch on, at least not for the reasons and groups shown in the demo video. Although, at this price point, it could be offered as a rental device to visit other places. However, I'm not sure it's a better substitute than a good website. (Pointed to by Dan)

Think that opinion is a little over the top? Well, the UK is coming to the realization that austerity doesn't work. That only took three years. Say, what's the Republican Plan for the economy if Romney/Ryan get elected? Oh yeah. "Osborne is now in a real hole. He is under mounting pressure to come up with a Plan B to boost growth, but is reluctant to do a U-turn, both because it would be an admission of failure and because he is worried that the financial markets would freak out. Yet, it is becoming harder and harder for supporters of the government to argue that the strategy is working." I guess they don't get Fox News in the UK. (Grokked from Tobias Buckell)

Given Romney's statement yesterday that the Obama campaign continues to deceive people, I'm sure they won't want you to read this list from Fred Clark showing their duplicity. Seriously conservatives, it's call projection. You can get therapy for it. People are openly calling the Romney Campaign the first "post-truth" campaign.

Alligator Quotient: I seriously hope the language on the Sears Parts Direct site about my order is boiler plate. Because 1-2 days to process, then 5-7 business days to deliver is NOT expedited in anybody's book.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Really Sears Parts Direct? You don't have the ability to cancel or edit orders less than an hour old (well, they can't do that for any order)? Yes, I put in the wrong part number (right type of part, wrong size) and that's my fault. However, I found the error quickly (1 number difference) and tried calling to get the change. So now I have to pay for two expedited shipments.

It's now 2012, you might want to get with the times. I've been able to do that with other companies for at least the past 5 years now. This is the second time I've had to use Sears Parts Direct, the first time I was sent the wrong part (your fault). And now I have to get parts for my water heater. Which, btw, expedited shipping takes 3 days?

Imagine how I feel about your service. I certainly hope you ship the correct parts this time. I'll just have to process the one for a return. I'll have to swallow the second expedited shipping fee. It would be really, really bad for me to be paying half the price of the water heater to fix the burner, of which we'll be without hot water for 4 days, only to have that delayed even longer.

Jay Lake is running a poll on naming his tumors. There's a few of mine in there, although he skipped by my favorite; Bert, Tom, and Bill, the trolls from the Hobbit. Maybe they were too topical. Anyway, go and vote for your favorites.

No matter how we deny it, we do judge books by their cover. The cover is marketing, and as Shannon Knight mostly says, they will depict what is necessary to sell the book. Which is why we have memes in covers. The cover is meant to quickly convey "this is what this story is about" and that is more than a concern than "this is exactly what's in the plot of this book." (Grokked from Jay Lake)

The Salon article on how to write a negative review. Some good points on when to walk away (as a reviewer and a writer), and unfortunately he buries the lead and most important point, "Fifth, don't be a dick." It's about the work, not the writer, for good or bad reviews. (Grokked from Joe Hill)

What. The. Fuck. No, really the acronym is not enough here. Look, hopeful Sen. Akin, if you're so mind fucked about basic biology and clueless about the victimization of women, in this specific case rape, you don't have enough brain cells to drive a motor vehicle let alone be given a vote in the Senate. At least, that's IMHO. You're apology, like most conservative apologies in the past 4 years, isn't one. Basically what you're saying is you realize people are upset with what you said and you're apologizing for the words you used. I'm going to say this very simply, because you don't have the capacity for bigger words. People are upset with what you said because you're a detestable ignoramus for believing what you do. We're not upset with your words, we just can't believe that some candidate is being put forward who doesn't have a grasp on reality, biology, or living in the modern word. I would compare you to what lives under rocks but I fear I would be defaming the rocks.(Grokked from Joe Hill)

And, just in case you think this is an isolated incident. I wonder if all those politicians making those comments are conservatives? Why yes. Yes they are. Strange that. Hey, you know that "War on Women" thing that came to everybody's attention this Spring? Just like the class war we've been fighting this war for decades. (Grokked from Chia Lynn)

And this, I can't find a word that adequately expresses my disdain and utter revulsion that a human being can think this way, isn't new at all. As Justine Larbalestier remains us.

This is not a small problem. This isn't some aberration that can be over looked. These people want to be your elected representatives. People who have the power to bankrupt this country, to take us into war, to negotiate and approve treaties with foreign powers. This is the same as having your car mechanic tell you they can fix your car to run on water; your plumber tell you that copper pipe is overrated and any old PVC line would work just as well, your doctor tell you that coffee enemas can cure your breast cancer. This is like your coworker going on about how he's very tired because the black helicopters were buzzing his neighborhood swiping people away to the FEMA re-education camps run by the UN. Or as Dan retweeted, "@thetweetofgod: The public saying of stupid shit is but a symptom of a deeper problem: the private THINKING of stupid shit."

Fred Clark has a good squib on how this explains the difference between having morals and moralism. It's a very good take on this and explains much of what we've seen growing in the political discourse over the past 30 years. There's a quote, and I'm blanking on it right at the moment, that goes something like, "I believe in the indifference of the universe because it would be intolerable to believe that we somehow deserve all we suffer through."

Sunday, August 19, 2012

When darkness spread her blanket on the battlefield, it wasn't the screaming of the men that kept me awake. The screaming of the horses drove dreams from me. The men had gone into battle fully aware of the stakes. The horses had no stake in the outcome. Horses don't fight for our side or theirs. The went into battle because they trusted the men on their backs to keep them safe. Their screams of pain and betrayal kept even the crows weeping in the trees. Lantern candles bob above the grasses harvesting spirits. Pistol shots send prayers to the stars as screams fall silent one by one. By the witches midnight all that's left is the amputated moans of the men still on the field who know help or peace is no longer coming for them.

What kind of writer are you? Actually the kind of writer who would want to rephrase that question… but the quiz says I'm Toni Morrison. So that's kinda cool. "If novel writing isn’t your cup of tea, dabble in some blogging or draft a dialogue-heavy script for film or television." Note: quiz does not require you to sign up for anything. (Pointed to by Random Michelle K)

Peter Bergen on the "documentary" Dishonorable Disclosures. Peter does a better take down that I could. But let me say that for the little I've heard about this attack ad (and it is nothing other than that), I can't believe people who served in uniform as special forces could be this clueless. Dudes, really, stop drinking the kool-aid. The final point Bergen lists, the "you didn't kill bin Laden" charge, if that quote isn't taken out of context - dude, really? Brush up on chain of command. It might surprise you. You might have missed how the President took great pains to praise the intelligence branches, the military, and especially SEAL Team Six. But at the end of the day, it was his order that put a plan on the table, and then it was his express order that implemented the plan. That was a hell of a risk. He's within his rights to take credit for that. Brid knows he would have been pilloried if it went pear-shaped. (Pointed to by Dan)

Saturday, August 18, 2012

One of the great things about NPR is you can introduced to a lot of cool music. One of the (three) local NPR stations in my market plays folk music on weekend evenings, which is (most of the time) highly entertaining. However, I heard a snipped of this song on All Things Considered the other day. It was one of those moments where you go, "I know that song" (actually the main riff is fairly standard, but done very well, it hit Dan as the same as Pete Townsend's "I eat heavy metal", and it sounds very Lindsey Buckingham to me). It impressed me so much I bought the entire album. And you know what a notorious skin flint I am.

So yeah, this is now in my playlist (along with the other songs from the album, which I recommend you check out).

On the rise of the totalitarian surveillance technology. It's mostly about the presence of cameras installed in public places that are ideal for use in facial recognition. "To acclimate their populations to this brave new world of invasive surveillance technologies, UK Prime Minister David Cameron and and his Canadian counterpart, Stephen Harper, both recently introduced 'snoop' bills. Meanwhile, in the US – 'the land of the free' – the onward march of the surveillers continues apace, without check or consultation." (Grokked from Jay Lake)

Dr. Gage, who teaches 20th century history and political thought at Yale, wonders why there's not liberal Ayn Rand. And the answer is, "Gage says the conservative movement has been developing a common intellectual heritage, but liberals have been moving in the opposite direction, to an increasingly diversified, rather than a shared, set of ideas." Just in case someone tries to sell you on the idea of how progressives are ideologues. Speaking from inside the tent, not so much of that going on here.

Also, in case your conservative friends like to talk about how much the current Congress has done, try not to laugh to hard in their face. The current conservative run congress, with a large freshman class of TPers, have passed one tenth of the laws passed by the "Do Nothing" Congress Truman ran against in 48.

Juan Cole with why the Romney Income Tax Returns matter. Also, is it me or did Mitt Romney basically say yesterday ("But every year I've paid at least 13 percent, and if you add in addition the amount that goes to charity, why, the number gets well above 20 percent.") that his taxes were the same as his charity giving? Just another insight into his mindset. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

If you run into anybody who tells you that funding NASA and space travel is just a waste, point them here. That's the WTF NASA? website with all the cool things we live with because NASA was here. (Grokked from Tor.com)

The mourner bill of rights. So very this. Talking to someone who is in mourning is difficult only if you're not listening to them or are dealing with your own grief in an abstracted way. Recently a friend had a difficult experience happen in the family. When I asked about it after they came back they told me, "oh, (family member) is dealing with it and is really okay." I looked at them and said, "If it were me, I'd be a total mess inside." While that may sound confrontational, in this case I think that brought us closer together as people who have experienced mourning. We saw in each other the mark of sameness. The cultural admonishment of "never speak evil of the dead" and "they're in a better place" and "we must go on" is a bunch of bull. And as an attendee of many a funeral, funerals are about the living, not the dead. The dead just lay there.

You know, it's not like he did't have a choice in which farmer he visited. Too bad his people had to pick one that owns 54 farms, is a real estate mogul, and event producer. Doesn't anybody at the Romney Campaign do the homework? Well, I guess since this guy is "just a millionaire", that's much closer to "real people" than Romney normally gets. So maybe a begrudging point or two? Not. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

Oh look, there's talk of creating another Gault's Gulch. Zzzz, zzzz, zzzz. In this case it's kinda round about being a Nerd's Oasis, but mostly for the libertarian members of Reddit. No, really, go ahead. Let us know what happens on your Lord of the Flies Island.

Paul Krugman with a more realistic reason why Romney chose Ryan. Given the right's insistence that the news media is "in love with Obama", I doubt this will make much of an impression. And then there was the Iowa Fair brouhaha. "'We’re used to this in Wisconsin,' Ryan claimed." Really? Well, I'm glad he's so blase about it. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

Alligator Quotient: They seem to be stuck in a revision/endless loop cycle. Might have to hard restart them all.

And essay by Emily Rapp about grief and the stories we tell ourselves. Sometimes those stories, and the public perception that we need to follow their examples, are the cruelest prisons. They are what our fairy tales became, instructional manuals on how to behave in public. When a person loses someone close to them, when we see them being stoic we thinks "that's correct" and "good for them." It fits our stories. When that person looks like the broken life they're living, shows and tells us of the grief that swells in their eviscerated life, cries and wails as they attempt to deal with their lose we think that's wrong when actually it's a truer experience than the stiff upper lip. "It will be, as the Buddhists say, what it is."

The Window's Surface tablet is rumored to be sold for $199 which would be below costs. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the OS/Browser Wars, Part 2. (Pointed to by John)

A Peruvian burial site with intact graves. One of the more interesting finds is a tomb surrounded by dozens of newborn child skeletons, all positioned as if looking into the tomb. Also noted, some people were buried under newborn skeletons. Piles of them. (Grokked from Matt Staggs)

When is a cross not a cross? When it's used as a message of hate. All the Middle Tennessee Baptist Church needs to do is light those babies on fire to complete their transformation to the dark side. Actually, in the back of my head, Firesign Theater's Waiting for the Electrician or Someone Like Him keeps running through my head. "Do you recognize what I'm holding over your heads, lads?", "It's a cross, symbol of the quartering of the universe into active and passive principles." … "What the father means is what is the cross made of. Gold. Do you have any?"

Sure glad Arizona isn't having any problems decreeing who is and isn't a citizen. Because, you know, jailing someone just because they're brown isn't bad enough, now we add, "and they had a silly name" to the list. But it's refreshing to see it isn't just President Obama whom Arizonian law enforcement thinks have forged their own birth certificate. (Grokked from the Slactivist)

As you may know, my reboot gets into full swing this month with the start of the program courses. In this case, the program really is a program (you must take these classes at this time in this order, no varying, no going back, the only do over is starting from the beginning). Since I was accepted into the 2012 start from my initially scheduled 2013 start, I didn't have first crack at registration. While the class is small enough for one lecture, we have 4 lab options. The two best options had already closed out by the time I got to register and there are no overrides allowed.

So I have a very much "less than optimal" schedule right at the moment. So much so it'll be hard to get 40 hours in at the day job (I'm working on that end as well). Which means my plan B, sub-option 2, working the weekends is coming into play (hopefully not until the second half of the semester).

But there is another option. This Friday the tuition bill is due. If you're not up to date, or have scheduled a payment plan, your classes are automatically dropped. So, I'm an asshole in the past for hoping that someone forgets or can't get their money in on time and I can swoop in and get their better lab time.

As an added bonus, I just noticed last night that the bill for our background checks had finally caught up with our accounts. That bill, if left unpaid, would count for dropping classes. No notification was sent (either to our homes or by our email accounts). It's only because I happened to check the college website for something else that I noticed. So I'm an asshole last night because I wished that some people in the better labs don't notice it.

All so I can be an asshole this Friday (or next Monday) by changing my labs to the more advantageous ones. And I feel guilty about that. I know how I would feel to find I was auto-dropped and then someone took my classes. Also, being a class of less than 30, it will be easy to figure out who was the vulture. However I have a very pragmatic side, if I can get those better times for labs, my life will be a thousand times easier this fall.

So, I'll feel guilty. If confronted, I'll be suitably embarrassed. But I'm going to do it anyway. Only now I have guilt for something I haven't done (except in my heart).

In case you thought Rachel Maddow was being alarmist on the Ohio Secretary of State defining different early voting rules in Ohio, now the ACLU and other organizations are getting involved. They're also reminding Sec. Husted about his previous comments wanting to keep elections uniform across the state.

What's so bad about a boy who want to wear a dress? On our society coming to grips with how we think about ourselves and the somewhat arbitrary gender trait assignments. After all, even less than 2000 years ago men wore what would now be called dresses. It was only a hundred years ago every child would wear a "dress" until a certain age.

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About Me

I am a writer of Fantasy, Horror, and Science Fiction. Here you can find some of my thoughts about writing, politics, society, dreams, and anything that comes into my head. Sometimes I drop a Story Bone or two. And then there is the tweeting.

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Anything put in a post with the title "Story Bone" is up for grabs. If it sets off a story bomb in your head, go for it. I don't claim any right except to maybe write my own story based on the bone. I haven't researched the bones to make sure I'm not trodding on somebody else's toes so use at your own risk. Think of these as free ideas.